Enclosed resilient wheel



Dec. 5, 1950 J. M. M LE AN ENCLOSED RESILIENT WHEEL Filed Dec. '7, 1946 K O T N E V N V d.M.MAcLE.A.N

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENCLOSED BESILIENT WHEEL James Matthew MacLean, Detroit, Mich. Application December I, 1946, Serial No. 714,743

1 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a simplified enclosed type of structure for resilient wheels similar functionally to those of my former patents. such as United States Patent No. 2,409,052, October 8th, 1946.

Former wheels of this class, although very emcient with regard to operation, comprise a considerable number of parts which constitutes a problem in mass production assembly.

It is, therefore, the main object of the present invention to provide a resilient wheel which comprises simply a unitary outer metal casting or rim. element including a rim member, inwardly extending blades, and a plate forming a side member; a hub element which includes a hub member, blades extending from the former radially and a plate forming a side thereof and cast in unitary form; these two elements being mountable in spaced relation one with the other and held by a resilient bonding medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a resilient wheel as before which, in constituting such a minimum of elements, is especially adaptable to mass production methods and is, therefore, cheap to manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a resilient wheel which is characterized by a simple enclosing structure and formed of two main elements separated by a resilient bonding medium to constitute a unitary structure in which stresses are distributed more uniformly due to the type of construction employed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention relates to a wheel of the class having a rim member, a hub member, and a web component of comparatively large radial depth with respect to the radial depth of the rim and the hub members and extending therebetween, wherein the web component comprisesf blades extending radially from each of said members toward the other in intermeshing relationship, each blade being of substantial length but slightly less than the radial depth of the web component, a plate enclosing each side or the web component joined to one member and extending toward but spaced from the other, and a resilient filler disposed between adjacent blades of the rim and hub members and extending radially for at least the entire overlapping surfaces of the blades to space one member and its blades and side plate from physical contact with the other member and the blades thereof. The preferred form is as so far described but further forms include the use of a ring to connect the free portions of the hub blades or of the rim blades or again it may be desirable to have an inner ring for the rim blades and an outer ring for the hub blades. Further it is obvious that one plate may be separately formed and fixed to the other side of that element carrying an integrally cast plate in which case the other element would have no plate member formed or connected therewith.

Other objects of the present invention will be revealed by a study of the following specifications taken to conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of enclosed type of resilient wheel according to the present invention being partially cut away to reveal the particulars of the inner structure.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the wheel taken on the surface of a hub blade showing the inner and outer type of ring construction.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the plane of a rim blade corresponding to the type of wheel indicated by Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the plane of the surface of a hub blade indicating the preferred form of wheel according to Figure 1 using an inner ring connecting the inner ends of the rim blades.

Referring to the drawings, the hub element comprises a hub l0 which has blade members ll extending radially therefrom and a plate member l2. These three parts are formed in one casting thereby reducing to a minimum the cost of assembly in this connection.

The rim element of the present invention comprises a rim l3 having blades ll projecting inwardly therefrom as shown and an inwardly extending plate l5, all parts thereof being incorporated in the same casting and formed by a method similar to that employed in the forming of the hub element previously described.

According to Figures 2 and 3, the blades H and II, the rim [3, and hub 10 and the plate I! and plate I5 respectively, are all separated by a continuous resilient bonding medium l6. Thus, it will be obvious that the hub element, comprising the hub member Ill, blades II, and plate member I2, is held in spaced relation to the rim element which is comprised of the rim l3, plate I! and blades ll.

In conformity with the design of my previous types of wheels and to ensure added strength, the

form shown in Figures 2 and 3 incorporated an outer ring member i'l aillxed to the lug l8 of all hub blades II. To this end, the lug N3 of each blade extends through an orifice IS in the inwardly extending plate 15 of the rim. An inner ring 20 is also shown and connects all of the lugs 2| of the rim blades It in a similar manner, the latter lugs extending through orifices 22 of the hub plate member 12. It will be particularly observed that the body of the resilient material l6 separating the rim and hub elements extends and provide a wheel which has a smooth outer surface substantially as revealed in Figure 4. In

this instance, each hub blade I la will not have an interrupted contour since the lug members l8 will be omitted. However, the rim blades M will be formed as previously described and indicated in Figure 3, the latter mounting the inner ring as shown. Where the problem of side thrust is substantially negligible, the rings may be eliminated having regard to the bond of the medium I 8 to the rim and hub blades. Thus the structure employing one ring only is illustrated in Figure 4 where such ring is operatively connected to components of the rim such as the blades of the latter.

It must be particularly emphasized that there is no metal contact as between the rim and hub elements in the present wheel and, therefore, the plate member I2 has the clearance as at 23 with the rim member l3 which is filled with the continuous body of resilient material I 6. Further, this is carried out in the clearance 24 between the plate l5 and the hub member i0. Moreover, it will be observed that the plates i2 and I! may be separately formed and both fixed to the constituent parts of either the rim or hub element. Again assuming a unitary form of either rim or hub element which includes in the casting the plate IE or l2 as the case may be, then the plate mounted to enclose the other side of the wheel can be connected after assembly of the elements to either the rim or hub element without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' The simplified form of resi ient wheel herein presented has reduced problems of manufacture to a minimum in that a minimum of equipment is required to initiate production at any one manufacturing location. In the preferred form there are, substantially, only the main metal parts which are formed in two cast n s to constitute rim an hub elements, the further element being the resilient bonding medium employed to ho d the latter in spaced relation to one another.

Machining is thereby cut to a minimum and the use of bolts and other similar assembly means substantially obviated. High uniformity of production is, therefore, possible to produce a resilient wheel having substantially all the desired characteristics of former wheels of this class.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A wheel of the class having a rim member, a hub member, and a web component of comparatively large radial depth with respect to the radial depth of the rim and hubmembers and extending therebetween, wherein the web component comprises: blades extending radially from each of said members toward the other in in r:

meshing relationship, each blade being ofsubstantial length but slightly less than the radial depth of the web component, a plate enclosing each side of the web component Joined to one member and extending toward but spaced from the other, and a resilient filler disposed between adjacent blades of the rim and hub members and extending radially for at least the entire overlapping surfaces of the blades to space one member and its blades and side plate from physical contact with the other member and the blades thereof.

2. A wheel of the class having a rim member, a hub member, and a web component of comparatively large radial depth with respect to the radial depth of the rim and hub members and extending therebetween, wherein the web component comprises: blades extending radially from each of said members toward the other in intermeshing relationship, each blade being of substantial length but slightly less than the radial depth of the web component, a plate enclosing each side of the web component joined to one member and extending toward but spaced from the other, a resilient filler disposed between adjacent blades of the rim and hub members and extending radially for at least the entire overlapping surfaces of the blades to space one member and its blades and side plate from physical contact with the other member and the blades thereof, and means for retaining said hub and rimmembers in assembled relation with one another comprising a structural element connected to one of said members and extending to partially overlie the exposed surfaces of the side plate of the other member.

3. A wheel of the class having a rim member, a hub member, and a web component of comparatively large radial depth with respect to the radial depth of the rim and hub members and extending therebetween, wherein the web component comprises: blades extending radially from each of said members toward the other in intermeshing relationship, each blade being of substantial length but slightly less than the radial depth of the web component, a plate enclosing each side of the web component Joined to one member and extending toward but spaced from the other, a resilient filler disposed between adjacent blades of the rim and hub members and extending radially for at least the entire overlapping surfaces of the blades to space one member and its blades and side plate from physical contact with the other member and the blades thereof, means for retaining said members in assembled relation comprising a structural element connected to one of said members and positioned to partially overlie the outer surfaces oi the side plate of the other member. and a resilient medium extending between opposed surfaces of said element and the side plate it overlies.

4. A wheel of the class having a rim member, a hub member, and a web component of comparatively large radial depth with respect to the radial depth of the rim and 'hub members and extending therebetween, wherein the web component comprises: blades extending radially from each of said members toward the other in intermeshing relationship, each blade being of substantial length but slightly less than the radial depth of the web component, a plate enclosing each side of. the web component joined to one member and extending toward but spaced from 5 the other, a resilient filler disposed between adjacent blades of the rim and hub members and extending radially for at least the entire overlapping surfaces of the blades to space one member and its blades and side plate from physical 7 contact with the other member and the blades thereof, means for retaining said members in assembled relation comprising a ring-like element connected to one of said members and positioned to partially overlie the outer surfaces of the side plate of the other member, and a resilient medium extending between opposed surfaces of said element and the side plate it overlies.

5. A wheel of the class having a rim member, a hub member, and a web component of comparatively large radial depth with respectto the radial depth of the rim and hub members and extending therebetween, wherein the web component comprises: blades extending radially from each of said members toward the other in intermeshing relationship, each blade being of substantial length but slightly less than the radial depth of the web component, a plate enclosing each side of the web component joined to one member and extending toward but spaced from the other, a resilient filler disposed between adjacent blades of the rim and hub members and extending radially for at least the entire overlapping surfaces of the blades to space one member and its blades and side plate from physical contact with the other member and the blades thereof, means for retaining the rim and hub members in assembled relationship joined operatively to said rim member and extending to partially overlie the outer surfaces of the side plate of the hub member, and a resilient medium extending between surfaces of said retaining means and adjacent surfaces of said hub side plate.

6. A wheel of the class having a rim member, a hub member, and a web component of comparatively large radial depth with respect to the radial depth of the rim and hub members and extending therebetween, wherein the web component comprises: blades extending radially from each of said members toward the other in intermeshing relationship, each blade being 01' substantial length but slightly less than the radial depth of the web component, a plate enclosing each side of the web component joined to one member and extending toward but spaced from the other, a resilient filler disposed between adjacent blades of the rim and hub members and extending radially for at least the entire overlapping surfaces of the blades to space one member and its blades and side plate from physical contact with the other member and the blades thereof, means for retaining the rim and hub members in assembled relationship joined operatively to said hub member and extending to partially overlie the outer surfaces of the side plate of the rim member, and a resilient medium extending between adjacent surfaces of the retaining means and the side plate of the hub member.

7. A wheel comprising a unitary hub element and a unitary rim element as main structural components, said hub element including, a hub, blades extending radially and outwardly from said hub and a plate incorporated in the formation of the hub and hub blades designed to substantially enclose one side of the wheel, said hub plate having a plurality of enlarged orifices, said rim element including, a rim and rim blades extending inwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation to the blades of said hub and saidhub, a resilient bonding medium separating the hub element from the rim element; a lug member extending from each rim blade designed to pass through an orifice of said hub plate, and a ring member mounted on the lugs of said rim blades and disposed thereby in spaced relation to the outer surfaces of said hub plate.

8. A wheel comprising two main structural components in the form of a unitary hub element and a unitary rim element, said hub element including, a hub; blades extending radially and outwardly fromsald hub. and a plate incorporated in the casting of the hub and hub blades designed to substantially enclose one side of the wheel, said hub plate having a plurality of enlarged orifices, said rim element including, a rim, and rim blades extending inwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation to the blades of said hub and said hub, and a resilient bonding medium separating the hub element from the rim element. a lug member extending from each rim blade designed to pass through an orifice of said hub plate, a ring member mounted on the lugs 01' said rim blades and disposed thereby in spaced relation to the outer surfaces of said hub plate. and means separating the lugs of said rim. blades and said ring from physical contact with said hub plate.

9. A wheel comprising two main structural components in the form of a hub element and a rim element, said hub element including, a hub, and hub blades extending radially outwardly therefrom and integrally formed with said hub in a single casting, said rim element including, a rim, rim blades extending inwardly of said rim in spaced apart relation to said hub blades and a plate extending from the rim and incorporated in the casting of the rim element and integrally connected to said rim blades designed to substantially enclose one side of said wheel, said rim plate having enlarged orifices, a resilient bonding medium separating the hub element from the rim element, a lug member extending from each hub blade designed to extend through each orifice of said rim plate, a ring member mounted on the lugs of said hub blades and disposed thereby in spaced relation to the outer surfaces of said rim plate and means separating the lugs of said hub blades and said ring from physical contact with said hub plate.

10. A wheel comprising two main structural components in the form of a unitary hub element and a unitary rim element, said hub element including, a hub, blades extending radially and outwardly from said hub, and a plate incorporated in the casting of the hub and hub blades designed to substantially enclose one side of the wheel, said hub plate having a plurality of enlarged orifices, said rim element including, a rim, rim blades extending inwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation to the blades of said hub, and a plate incorporated in the casting of the rim and rim blades designed substantially to enclose the other side of the wheel. a resilient bonding medium separating said rim element from said hub element, a lug member extending from each rim blade designed to pass through an orifice of said hub plate, a ring member mounted on the lugs of said rim blades and disposed thereby in spaced relation to the outer surfaces of said hub plate, and means separataesaue physical contact with said hub plate.

11. A wheel comprising a unitary hub element and a unitary rim element as main structural components, said hub element including, a hub, blades extending radially and outwardly from said hub, and a plate incorporated in the casting of the hub and hub blades designed to substantially enclose one side of the wheel, said rim element including a rim, rim blades extending inwardly therefrom in spaced apart relation to the blades of said hub, and a plate incorporated in the casting of the rim and rim blades designed substantially to enclose the other side of the wheel, said rim plate having a plurality of enlarged orifices, a resilient bonding medium separating said rim element from said hub element, a lug member extending from each hub blade designed to extend through an orifice of said rim plate, a ring member mounted on the lugs of said hub blades and disposed thereby in spaced relation to the outer surfaces of said rim plate, and means separating the lugs of said hub blades and said ring from physical contact with said hub plate, said hub plate being designed for clearance with said rim; said rim plate being designed for clearance with said hub.

12. A wheel comprising a hub element and a rim element arranged in concentric spaced apart relation, a resilient medium forming the sole means of continuity between said elements. blade members extending from each of said elements toward the other, and at least one side plate extending from at least the base of the blades of one of said members past the free extremities of the blades thereof to substantially enclose one side of the wheel, the free edge of said side plate past the free extremities of said blades being in close annular spaced apart relation relative to adjacent surfaces of the other element as compared with the radial distance between the base of the blades of one element and the base of the blades of the other element, and a ring member disposed exteriorly of the side plate of one ele-- ment, means extending from said ring member through said side plate and connecting to said other element, said side plate having enlarged holes for free passage of said means, said resilient medium extending through said holes about said means and between at least a portion of the inner surfaces of said ring member and adJacent exterior surfaces of the side plate.

JAMES MA'I'IHEW MACLEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 85,693 Raddin Jan. 5, 1869 505,572 Maxim Sept. 26, 1893 1,948,304 Maas Feb. 20, 1934 1,956,195 Klein Apr. 24, 1935 2,409,052 MacLean Oct. 8, 1948 

